g-odfrey



(No Model.) whens-sheet 1. A. GODFREY.

ROTARY GRIPPER PLATEN PRINTING MACHINE.

,869. Patented Dec. 13, 1887.

INVENT WITNESSES: A Fw .(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. GODFREY.

ROTARY GRIPPER PLATEN PRINTING MACHINE.

WITNESSES INVBNTOR ATTORNEY N. FEYERS. Phuia-Llllwgmylhcr. Washinglan. ac

-i 4 Sheets-Sheet a.

A. GODFREY. ROTARY GRIPPER PLATYBN PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 374,869; Patented-Dec. 18, 1887.

BNT R M ATTORNEY wmmssm: A/Fww.

(No Model.) 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 4."

A; GODFREY;

ROTARY GRIPPER PLATBN PRINTING MA IRR'.

No. 374,869. Patented Dec. 13, 1887.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED GODFREY, oF NEW YORK, N. r.

ROTARY GRIPPER PLATEN PRINTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.374,869, dated December 13, 1887.

Application filed August 16, 1886.

To aZZ whom it may' concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED GODFREY, a subject of the Queen of England, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Gripper Platen Printing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to certain improvements on the reciprocating-platen printing-machine patented to me on the 22d day of June, 1886, by Letters Patent of the United States N 344,265; and the object of said improvements is to simplify the construction of the machine patented as aforesaid, whereby its cost is materially reduced and its opera tion rendered more rapid and reliable and the machine less liable to derangement by unskillful handling.

My patent above referred to embodies the first successful example of a platen printingmachine embracing an automatic sheet registering and feeding mechanism, whereby each sheet is taken from the feed-table by grippers, presented to the printing-surface, withdrawn from said surface when the impression has been made, and delivered onto the delivery board or table direct. My improved machine accomplishes all that the said patented machine is capable of performing, but employs a much less number of operative parts. 7

The improvementshereinafter described, by which a greatly-simplified structure capable of an usually high rate of speed is produced, contemplates, first, mounting gri pp er-carriages directly upon the supporting-frames, thereby dispensing with therace-plates, running-wheels on the gripper-carriages, levers, spring-rods, and springs, as now employed in the patented machine; second, the employment of a single set of mechanism for driving the grippers instead of two complete sets, as in the patented machine; third, the employment of mechanism whereby the grippers are rotated one-third of the quarter-revolution around the platen whileit is receding from the impression, so as to bring the grippers into the proper position in line with the feed-board, and then rotating them the remaining two-thirds while the platen is advancingto the impression; fourth, arranging front-lay mechanism, so that the registering'screws on the gripper-carriages may be Serial No. 211,059. (No model.)

made to register the paper on the feed-board as well as on the platen for receiving the impression; fifth, the employment of a self-locking tilting handle for bringing the platen in position for making ready; sixth, the mount ing of the platen on an axis, so that a vibrating motion toward and from the impression is imparted thereto, instead ofmounting the same in blocks sliding in the frame, and also in certain novel combinations, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and in which like features are indicated by like letters, Figure 1 is a sectional end elevation, on the line 00 a: of Fig. 2, of aplaten printing-machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view, and Fig. 4 a detail side View, of the mechanism for operating the lays of the feed-board. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the leading features of the improvements herein after described. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the self locking tilting handle for adjusting the platen for making ready. Figs. 7 to 13, both inclusive, are detail views of the mechanism for driving the grippers.

The frame of the machine is indicated by A. B is a balance-wheel, G the tight and loose driving-pulleys, d the platen, O the platenbeam, 6 the type surface or form, and D the driving-shaft, which features are not unusual in power platen printing-machines.

The driving-shaft D has mounted on one end thereof the pinion E,which pinion meshes with the spurwheel F, the latter meshing with the spur-wheel G, located on the shaft H. To the shaft H the crank I and connectingrods J are attached.

K indicates the shaft, which carries the spur-wheel F, and on this shaft are also located the two spur'gears'L L, which mesh with gears M M, the latter running loosely on the shaft H, and being designed to propel the inking-rolls, which are arrangedto travel around the way N.

- On shaft Q are arranged the two arms P P, which support the platen-beam O, the ends of the platen-beam being turned to fit into said supporting-arms. On the inside of the arms 1? P and on each side of the platen are the two supporting frames at a, on which are bolted the grippers and gripper-carriages b. In my patented machine the ends of the arms of the frames at a serve as fulcra for levers, whlch support gripper-carriages running by fr1ct1on-rollers on race-plates at each side of the platen-beam; but in my present invention all of said auxiliary mechanism is dispensed with. Moreover, in my patented construction 1t 1s essential to have two complete sets of gripper-driving mechanism, whereas in the present construction, by reason of having the supporting-frames a a connected by the gripper-frames,which are bolted directly onto the arms of said castings, one set of driving mechanism only is required. I

The pawl mechanism for driving the grippers is the same in this instance as in my patented machine,with the exception of the locking device,which will be described. The boss of the aforesaid frame a is provided with ratchet-teeth a",a ratchet-tooth being provided to each arm, and a recess, a", formed in the root of each ratchet-tooth, designed to provide an efli'cient lock or grip for the pawl m, to pre vent the casting disengaging itself by its momentum from the point of said pawl. The pawl m (see Figs. 7, 8, and 9) is pivoted on a pm, at, on the collar or ring 19, running loose on the end of the platen-beam, the other end, m, of said pawl being connected by the rod Z, the bell-crank i j, lever 9, having frictionroll f and fulcrumed to the frame at g, and rod h to the cams e, by which a reciprocatlng movement is given to the pawl m. The loose collar 9, Figs. 7, 8, and 9, is provided wlth a stop, 10, so placed that it allows, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 7, a slight play of the pawl at around its pivot with each pull or thrust of the connecting-rod 1-- that is, before the thrust of the rod is communicated to the ratchet-teeth at the pawl m turns on its pivot, so as to bed into recess a, formed in the root of each tooth, and again on the return-stroke the first pull of the connectingrod Z serves to lift the engaging-point of the pawl by turning the said pawl on its pivot against the stop 19', holding the point clear of the ratchet during the return-stroke. During the engagement or disengagement of the pawl m with the ratchet a the loose collar p is held by a brake, u, pivoted on pin a on supporting-arm P, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and which consists of abrake-block spring-pressed against the turned portion of the collar p, the end of the spring reacting against a projection, n on the supporting-arm P. The engagement of the leverpawl on into the ratchet a serves to communicate the reciprocating movement of the connecting-rod Z, 850., to the frame a in the form of an intermittent rotary motion, the said frame a remaining stationary while the pawl is drawn back for the next forward feedstroke, the momentum being stopped by the action of the brake s, hereinafter more fully described.

I find in practice that at a high speed the momentum disengages the hook of pawl m from the recess at the root of the ratchet-tooth. To prevent this, the locking device q is employed. This device (1 is centrally pivoted at q to the loose collar 1), and its inner end is jointed to a rod, (1 which passes through a boss on the collar 0, the said rod being surrounded by a compression-spring, q. Fig. 9 shows the pawl m locked in contact with the ratchet a by the locking device q.

It will be seen that as the collar rotates in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 9, the end g of the device q comes in contact with the stud r, (shown on Fig. 7,) and thereby disengages its lower end from the pawl, as also shown in Fig. 7 which allows the pawl to be withdrawn, as shown by dotted lines in said Fig. 7.

The letter a indicates an additional safetypawl auxiliary to pawl m, pivoted to the collar p and held in contact with the ratchet a by the spring 0.

In my patented machine, instead of the vibrating motion employed in the present construction, the platen has a parallel reciprocating movement to and from the type by means of blocks sliding in the sides of the frame, and in that construction the gri ppers rotate around the platen only when the latter is advancing toward the type, remaining stationary on their axis during the backward movement of the platen toward the feed-board, while partaking of the backward movement of the sliding blocks. In the present construction the grippers rotate while the platen is both going onto the impression and receding therefrom toward the feedboard, two-thirds of said rotary motion being effected while the platen is advancing toward the type and one-third while it is receding therefrom and advancing toward the feed-board, the grippers stopping momentarily in their motion around their axis while the sheet is being printed, and alsowhile the grippers are taking the sheet from the feedingboard, the intervals of rest being effected by the dead portion of 0 (2 on the cam e. By this arrangement the grippers rotate at a slower speed on their axis than in the patented machine, notwithstanding the machine travels at the same speed as in said patented machine; or the present machine may run one-third faster than the patented machine, and yet the grippers will only rotate in that case at the same speed as in the patented machine. \Vhen the rotary travel of the gripper-carriages is completed and the one carrying the sheet to be printed is in front of the type, the remaining and hitherto simul taneous vibrating travel of said grippercarriages, in connection with the vibrating movement of the platen-beam, is modified as to this sheet-carrying carriage by the head of ascrew or projection, t, Fig. 5, at each lateral end of the gripper-carriage coacting as a stud with a stationary incline, w, and stopping at the proper working height upon a dead-level, w, thus compensating any inaccuracy in the ratchet-teeth. A pair of said stud-screws or projections, 22, are carried by the ends of each ICC carriage, and inclines w and dead-levels to proect inward from the respective sides of each frame A.

]3y the action of the screws or projections c sliding up the incline w the sheetis registered on the platen; but it also has to be registered on the feed-board w, and this is effected in the present construction as follows: The front lays, z, are fastened to the frame a, the opposite ends of said frame being provided with slots, through which are passed the fixed pins I), Figs. 3, 4, and 5. A tension-spring, 0 keeps the ends ofthe slots in frame in contact with the pins 6 as shown in Fig. 4. A compressionspring, at", serves to keep the frame a in contact with the cam f", which cam is located on the shaft 6 and is adapted to be rotated by the sprocketwheels g t and chain it; as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that as the cam f rotates it lowers the frame a into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4, and thus lowers the front lays below the level of the feed-board, which permits the grippers, when they seize the sheet, to remove it therefrom.

3 y are abutments seen red to each side of the frame a, and which occupy a position in line with the travel of the registering screws or proj ections v, as shown in Fig. 5. As the registering-screws'u travel toward the feed-board w, and as the grippers recede from the impression, they come in contact with said abutments y y and move them into an exact posit-ion against the re action of the spring 0, and thereby register the sheet in an exact position on the feed-board x at the instant the grippers close on the said sheet, the opening and closing being effected as follows: The gripper-jaws are provided with tail-levers b which,as the grippers are brought to their final position for receiving the sheet, come in contact with a stud, d, projecting from the frame A, and are thus opened against the reaction of spring c, which spring keeps the gripper-jaws normally closed. The grippers are opened for depositil'ig the sheet on the delivery-board If by a stud, c fixed to the supporting'arm P in such a position that as the grippers rotate around their axis they come in contact with said stud, and are thus opened at the right instant for depositing the printed sheet on the delivery-board 12 In order to check the momentum ofthe grippers at the required moment without shock, I employ the brake s, which is pivoted on the pin s, Fig. 7. This pin s is secured to the supporting-arm P, and on the same arm, below pin 3, is pivoted on another pin, 3 a lever, t, on one end of which is carried a spiral spring, 3, the upper end of which spring isin contact with the brake 8. On the other end of lever t is a frictionroller, t.

The letter t indicates a projection on the framing of the machine, which, for a certain distance, 13 i is radial with the center Q, on which the supporting-arms P P are swung.

Fig. 7 shows the spring s compressed and the friction-roller t in contact with said radial portion of the projection. It will be seen that as the platen recedes from the impressionin the direction of the arrow,which is effected by the vibration of the arms P P on axis Q, the friction-roller if, being carried on the arm P, partakes of its radial motion from the center, and upon passing the point t" the brake is relieved of its pressure, the projection being at that point cut away beyond the reach ofsaid friction-roller 15. As the platen advances toward impression the roller 25 again engages with said-portion t t of projection t and applies brake 8.

Owing to the automatic feed of my grippers being always to a dead-line upon the platen, it is necessary, whatever the size of the form, that it shall be always set with one edge to that feed-line, and thus probably in many cases to quite the top of the type-bed. This irregularity of position of the type out of the center of pressure will tend to cause an unequal pressure upon the surface of the platen, and so tend to throw it from its true vertical printing position. -In order to obviate this tendency I place upon the platen projecting bearers a, Fig. 5. These are placed at the four corners of the platen, so that when the said platen is forcing the paper against the type the said projecting bearers a will simultaneously with such action slide into recesses a and come into contact with the type-bed a", supporting the form, and thcrebyuniformly support the platen and counteract the tendency that otherwise would be of unevenness of pressure or battering of the type at the time the impression is being given.

In addition to the above, where the move ment of the platen is a vibrating one, as in the present instance, the tendency in practice when printing-heavy forms is for the lower edge of the platen to come in contact with the impression before its top edge, and to obviate this inequality of movement of the top and bottom edges of the platen I findthe employment'of the pressure-bearers above described to be of special value.

It will be seen that on account of the smallrelative movement of the platen, as compared with the ordinary platen-machines, a diffieulty would be experienced in getting at the platen for the purpose of making ready. To obviate such difficulty the ends of the platenbeam are turned circular and fitted into holes on the supporting-arms P P, as before described, and are free to rotate therein when not locked in position, as shown in Fig. 6, or when the handle is turned up, as shown in dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 2. One end of said platen-beam 0 projects through the supporting arms P P, and on said projecting end is keyed a strap, a", to which is hinged by means of a pin a lever, I)".

The letter (1 indicates a projection on the supporting-arm P, with which-the screw 6*, which runs through the strap a, comes in contact when the platen is in printing position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5.

IIO

The letter 0 is a projection on the handle b*,

which engages with the other side of the boss (1 when the handle I) is turned over on its pivot to the position shown in full lines, Figs. 1, 2, and 5, thereby automatically locking the" platen in position and dispensing with the locking-lever mentioned in my patented ma chine herein referred to.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a platen printing-machine employing a vibrating platen, a series of grippers mounted directly upon frames secured to the axis of the beam of said platen and revolving around the latter and constructed with metal jaws which open and close to grip and release the paper, combined with a stationary feed-board from which the grippers automatically remove the paper, substantially as set forth.

2. In a platen printing-machine employing a vibrating platen, the frames a a, having their bearings upon the axis of the beam of said platen and provided with a series of automatic gripper-carriages mounted directly upon said frames, combined with a feed-board on which separate sheets of paper are automatically registered, a receiving-board on which the printed sheets are deposited, and mechanism, substantially as described, whereby said frames are intermittently rotated in a continuous direction upon the axis of said platen-beam during the reciprocation of the platen, substantially as set forth.

3. In a platen printing-machine employing a vibrating platen, a series of gripper-carriages mounted upon the frames at a, combined with a single set of gripper-driving mechanism comprising the connecting-rods h l, bell-crank t j, and the pawl-'and-ratchet mechanism, and suitable gearing and cam, whereby an intermittent rotating motion is imparted to said frames, substantially as set forth.

4. In a platen printing-machine, a vibrating platen and a series of revolving grippers mounted upon an axis, combined with mechanism, substantially as described, for impartlng rotary motion to said grippers, which includes a cam,whereby the said grippers are ro- -t'ated while receding from as well as while advancing to the impression, substantially as herein set forth.

5. The locking device q, pivoted to the collarp and coacting with the pawl m for the purpose of keeping said pawl firmly locked in the recesses a in the teeth of the ratchet, and thus preventing the momentum of the grippers from disengaging the pawl from the ratchet, substantially as set forth.

6. The rotating gripper-carriages provided with registering screws or projections, as '0, combined with automatic feed-board mechanism, substantially as described, whereby said registering screws or projections register the paper on said feed-board, in addition to the function of registering the paper on the platen, substantially as set forth.

7. The feed-board mechanism, comprising the feed-board 0:, frame a hung and adapted to slide upon pins b springs 0 and abut- 'ments y 3 combined with the revolving gripperframes having automatic grippers provided with registering screws or projections, as 12, substantially as set forth.

8. The feed-board w, in combination with the pivoted frame a", having front lays, z, and camsf located upon shaft 6 combined with sprocket wheels and chains, spring d, and revolving grippers coacting with said feed-board mechanism, wherebysaid grippers may remove the paper from said feed-board, substantially as set forth.

9. 'In a platen printing-machine, a self-locking tilting handle secured to the platen-beam, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 10th day of August, A. D. 1886.

' ALFRED GODFREY.

Witnesses:

J. E. M. BOWEN, BENJAMIN MILLER. 

